Aug 27, 2010 2:04 PM

I found this lizard in one of my offices at work in Bridport, Dorset. I was unable to identify or look after it so I passed it on to Kingston Maurward college as they delt in exotics. They also have been unable to identify it, although I have been informed it is doing well and shed it's skin. I would be really interested to know what species it actually is, and where it comes from if it is not native. Thank you in advance.

We have asked our reptile curators here at the Museum for some clarification on this one!

Difficult to be absolutely certain but I think it is most likely to be a melanistic example of the Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara).Interestingly a photograph of a very similar specimen has recently been posted on a reptile forum site (http://www.captivebredreptileforums.co.uk/reptiles-amphibians-field/37120-melanistic-vivipara.html)Incidentally googling “Zootoca vivipara melanistic” will point to many other sites with photos of black Common lizards.Anyway I would suggest that you might also like to check with the Dorset reptile specialists (Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) www.arc-trust.org who may be able to add further to this intersting creature.

i was about to feel really clever and say that its a melanistic form of our common / viviparous lizard but I'm almost 100% certain thats correct as few invasive reptiles make it to the south west and none are established here (i live in devon) i see these lizards all the time and the body shape is spot on for the common lizard and melanistic individuals aren't particularly rare as melanism is one of the more common mutations in all animals, this is how panthers, black foxes, and the black corn snake morph occur... but you beat me to it haha... by three years, yep I'm a new member looking for posts on reptiles haha